Kenyan rally driver Michuki Hinga celebrated his 21st birthday in style this month with a fairytale debut on the continental stage, winning the Two-Wheel Drive category and finishing second overall in the NRC category of the 2026 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally.
Driving a Toyota RunX with co-driver John Ngugi, Hinga made his very first outing in rallying count in dramatic fashion at the FIA African Rally Championship event held from 10-12 July in the hills of Rwanda.
Against more experienced opposition in 4WD and in tough mountain terrain, the Nairobi-based driver was calm, consistent, and fast from the start. By the end of Leg 2, Hinga had not only topped the NRC 2WD class but also placed second overall in the National Rally Championship category.
Hinga won the 2WD class by a massive 47 minutes
He clocked a total time of 02:33:32.7, 20 minutes and 46.1 seconds behind overall winner Christian Kanangire of Rwanda in a Subaru Impreza 4WD car, but crucially 4 minutes and 55 seconds clear of Ugandan Faizal Kayira in third.
More impressively, Hinga won the 2WD class by a massive 47 minutes and 5.9 seconds over Odeon Niwagaba of Uganda in a Toyota Altezza, with Ibrahim Lubega of Uganda third in a Toyota Corolla.
“It’s unbelievable. This was my very first rally and to come away with a class win, and P2 overall is a dream,” Hinga said after the finish. “The team gave me a great car, John did a perfect job on the notes, and we just focused on finishing clean. Turning 21 this month and getting this result in Rwanda means everything.”
The Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, a round of the FIA African Rally Championship, is known for its tricky gravel stages and high altitude, making Hinga’s debut performance even more remarkable for a first-time driver.
For the son of rally driver Charles Hinga, the result marks the perfect start to what Hinga Jnr hopes will be a long career behind the wheel.
RWANDA MOUNTAIN GORILLA RALLY 2026 – PROVISIONAL RESULTS (10 – 12 July 2026)
RMGR NRC – OVERALL TOP 3
1. Christian Kanangire (RWA) / Kevi Mujiji (RWA) – Subaru Impreza – 02:12:46.6
2. Michuki Hinga (KEN) / John Ngugi (KEN) – Toyota RunX – 02:33:32.7
3. Faizal Kayira (UGA) / Ivan Sserunkuma (UGA) – Subaru Impreza – 02:38:24.7
RMGR NRC 2WD – CLASS RESULTS
1. Michuki Hinga (KEN) / John Ngugi (KEN) – Toyota RunX – 02:33:32.7
2. Odeon Niwagaba (UGA) / Husse Mukuye (UGA) – Toyota Altezza – 03:20:38.6
3. Ibrahim Lubega (UGA) / Must Kanakulya (UGA) – Toyota Corolla – 04:29:00.1